Liquid cooling apparatus



Jan. 10, 1967 F. A. GONZALEZ 3,296,806

LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1965 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOI- FRANK A.GONZALEZ BYW ATTOR EYJ Jan. 10, 1967 F. A. GONZALEZ LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1965 INVENTOR FRAN K A. GONZALEZ ATTORNEU United States Patent Ofifice 3,2%,86 LIQUID CUULING APPARATUS Frank A. Gonzalez, New York, N.Y., assignor to Medical Electroscience, Inc. Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,648 8 Claims. (Cl. 62-3) This invention relates to a liquid cooling apparatus, an object of which is the thermoelectric cooling of two or more liquids, which are cooled directly by modules through a heat-conducting casting for reducing the temperatures of the liquids, following which they are dispensed together.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character described for continuously cooling and forcing a liquid under pressure through a heat-reducing coil system, and simultaneously reducing the temperature of a second liquid in a container cooled by the same direct action of the thermoelectric elements through the casting.

A further object is to provide a liquid cooling, mixing and dispensing apparatus, including a heat-conducting casting having a central cavity, a heat-conducting liquid coil embedded in the casting adjacent the cavity and a heat-conducting liquid container within the casting cavity and in contiguous engagement with the walls of the casting forming the cavity, the apparatus including thermoelectric elements in contiguous engagement with the casting, a heat-dissipating assembly engaged with the thermoelectric elements for removing heat from the casting, and valve means for mixing and dispensing the cooled mixture from the apparatus.

A still further object is to provide a liquid cooling apparatus, as described, wherein springs are used as a means to provide a constant pressure on the casting and heat-dissipating assembly together to provide a continuous thermal path from the coils and container in the casting to the assembly, for the rapid and eflicient dissipation of heat drawn from the liquids.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid cooling apparatus of the present invention, portions thereof being shown in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention generally embodies a box-like housing in which is mounted a cooling assembly 11 and a heat-dissipating assembly 12.

Housing 1t) preferably includes side walls 13 and a rear wall 14, the side and rear walls preferably being formed from a single sheet of material. A front wall 15 is secured to the adjacent terminals of said walls 13 in a suitable fashion, the lower part of which is equipped with grillework, to provide openings 15', serving as an air intake. A removable or hinged top cover is indicated at 16. Extending from the lower extremity of the housing It is a sub-housing 17, having side walls 18, a rear wall 19, front wall and a bottom 21.

Cooling assembly 11 is preferably positioned in spaced relation to side 13 and rear 14 of housing It and extends to a point approximately midway the housing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, insulation 22 is inserted between cooling assembly 11 and the side walls 13 and rear 14 of the housing 10 and also at predetermined points at the center of the housing in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

Cooling assembly 11 includes a generally cylindrical 3,2963% Patented Jan. 10, 1967 casting 23 made of a material having high specific heat characteristics, preferably aluminum. The outer portion of cylindrical casting 23, at the central section of the container is extended outwardly at spaced intervals as indicated at 24, the extensions terminating in flat square faces corresponding to and adapted for engagement with thermoelectric modules 25 which may be of standard construction. Any suitable number of extensions and modules may be employed, there being shown in FIG. 3, four such extensions and modules. Insulation 22 is packed between extensions 24 for efiicient cooling.

Casting 23 is provided with a central enlarged cavity extending through the major part of the casting from the top to a point adjacent the lower terminal thereof. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, tubing 26 is embedded in and spirally wound through the casting 23, and adjacent central cavity, the tubing having suitable heat-conducting properties. Stainless steel tubing has been found to be suitable for the present purposes, which tubing is metallurgically bonded to aluminum casting 23.

It is further within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a coinpiemental container 27 which is fixedly secured to, and in thermal engagement with, casting 23, as indicated in the drawings, the container also being made of a heat-conducting material such as stainless steel. U-shaped tube supports 28 or other devices which are found to be expedient, are located at intervals for holding tubing 26 in related position to container 27. The bottom of container 27 is provided with an outlet 29 which feeds the liquid container therein to spiral tubing 34 in the extreme lower portion of casting 23 which, in turn, is connected to a feed pipe 31 subjacent the casting. If desired, outlet 29 may be directly connected to feed pipe 31. Tubing 26 is provided with an inlet line 32 and an outlet line 33. The liquid flowing from container 27 through outlet 29, spiral tubing 3ft and feed pipe 31, and the liquid passing through tube as and outlet line 33 are intermixed in a standard dispensing valve 35, actuated by an operating handle 36. A pressure switch or manual or magnetic dispensing valves may also be employed.

Heat-dissipating assembly 12 includes a pair of metallic fin units preferably made of aluminum, the units being arranged side by side and extending transversely of housing it] at a central point thereof. Each fin unit includes a base 37, from one face of which issues a plurality of vertically arranged, spaced, heat-dissipating fins 38. The opposite face of base 3'7 is in contiguous thermal engagement with modules 25. In order to retain the fin units in a stationary position with respect to housing 10, the lateral edge of each unit adjacent sides 13 is provided with a longitudinal groove adapted for the reception of a spline 39 of a fin unit guide 40 which is fixedly secured to each side wall 13 of the housing 10.

It is further within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a fan support 41 which is angularly mounted between the fin unit and front wall 15 to which a conventional electrically operated fan 42 is attached. The fan is mounted at any suitable angle for optimum dissipation of heat collected by fins 33, an angle of approximately 45 having been found to effect good results. An air deflector is indicated at 43. If desired, the fan may also be mounted in the same plane as the fins so as to exhaust at both top and bottom.

It is still further within the contemplation of the present invention to provide means for constantly urging cooling assembly 11 and heat-dissipating assembly 12 together in order to insure the exchange of heat between casting 23 to fins 38. For this purpose there are provided spaced rows of screw eyes 44 which are threadedly engaged with fin base 37, which eyes are adapted to support steel pull bars 45 which are horizontally arranged in spaced parallel relationship. Each pull bar 45 is adapted to support the terminals of a coil spring 46 which extend to a point adjacent casting 23 where they are connected to opposite ends of a flexible strap 47 preferably made of a low heat-conducting material. As shown to advantage in FIG. 2, the flexible strap extends around the casting 23 from one spring to the other, the plurality of straps being tensioned by the springs in a manner to constantly exert a force on the casting, in the direction of the stationary heat-dissipating unit 12. In this manner, proper contact is maintained at all times, between the two units.

While the apparatus of the present invention is adaptable for the simultaneous cooling of any two liquids, there has been shown in the drawings, the adaptation thereof for use as a dispenser of carbonated soft drinks. For this purpose, a pumpless-type earbonating unit 48 is illustrated as being suitably mounted within the housing adjacent front wall 15, although it may also be within the insulation or attached to the exterior of the casting. The carbonating unit is connected by a line 49 to a water supply and by a line 50 to a gas supply, such as carbon dioxide. The carbonated water produced in 48 is emitted through pipe 51 which is connected with the tube inlet 32 Also situated within the housing 10 adjacent carbonating unit 48 is a power pack 52 for supplying direct current electrical energy to the modules. All other elements are operated on 110-volts, alternating current.

In operation of the illustrated apparatus for cooling, mixing and dispensing of a carbonated soft drink, carbonated water is supplied by unit 48 through pipe 51 and inlet 32 to tubing 26 whereupon it is circulated in a spiral path through casting 2 3 to outlet 33. During the passage of the carbonated water through tubing 26, modules 25 are energized to remove heat from the liquid through stainless steel tubing 26, aluminum casting 23 and casting extensions 24, the heat being transferred to the fin units where it is dissipated by action of a fan 42 which directs the heated air upwardly through opening in cover 16. During the cooling of the carbonated water in tubing 26, flavoring syrup which has been placed in stainless steel container 27 within the casting, is subjected to the cooling effect caused by the removal of heat from the carbonated water, thereby, in turn, causing the removal of heat from the flavoring syrup which also passes through the casting to heat-dissipating assembly 12. By this means, when the flavoring syrup is drawn off through outlet line 33, both are cooled to a uniform rate prior to being mixed together and dispensed through valve 35 by operation of handle 36.

With the apparatus of the present invention therefore, one liquid e.g. carbonated water, is continuously cooled while flowing through the coil system and simultaneously cooling a second liquid e.g. flavoring syrup, prior to mixing the chilled liquids together for dispensing. The aluminum casting, in addition to conducting heat to the fin unit, also constitutes a booster for the thermoelectric modules. In the event that warm syrup is placed in the container, or when warm water constantly flows through the system, the high specific heat of the aluminum casting effects rapid absorption of a large quantity of heat, resulting in a fast drop in temperature of the water and syrup. The absorbed heat in the casting is then pulled out by the modules during slack periods. The casting therefore acts as a cold reserve that supports the modules during periods of increased use, or heat introduction.

The thermoelectric modules employed in the present invention may be of a standard type and are preferably soldered on the hot side and have a silver or metallic paste or other thermo-eonducting material or the like applied to the cold side for better heat conducting properties.

The use of two fin units arranged side by side, permits the same to more freely adjust to the positions or planes of the casting. By tensioning the casting against the fin units, the long heat path of the springs and the pull bars results in a constant, straight pressure, and a very long thermal conducting path from the fin or hot plate to the casting or cold plate. The angular or vertical positioning of the fan forces air between the fins to the base of the fin units to obtain a better cleansing action of the surfaces for heat removal, and to counteract the natural tendency of air flows to develop insulating lamina layers of air next to non-moving surfaces.

The temperature is thermostatically controlled and may be set to any temperature desired for the carbonated water and flavoring syrup.

This invention may also be provided with standard delay circuit means for allowing the fan to run two or three minutes longer after the modules are thermostatically cut-off to prevent flow back by bringing the fins to ambient temperature. Also, the fan may be run at a slower speed after the fluids and casting have reached a desired temperature.

Although in the form of the invention illustrated, the carbonating means is shown within the apparatus housing, it is to be understood that these means may, if desired, be located externally of the housing, or the unit may be operated on a central carbonated water supply.

Various other changes may be made within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

1. A liquid cooling apparatus including a housing, 3 heat-conducting body within said housing, a liquid pa'ssageway through said heat-conducting body, a liquid heatconducting container positioned in thermal engagement with said heat-conducting body, thermoelectric means engaged with said heat-conducting body for removing heat therefrom, and heat-dissipating means engaged with said thermoelectric means for receiving heat from the latter, the heat-dissipating means including a fan member for directing heat to a point externally of said housing.

2. A liquid cooling apparatus including a housing, a body of high specific heat characteristics within said housing, heat-conducting tubing for liquid spirally embedded in said body, a liquid container of heat-conducting material within said spiral tubing and in thermal engagement with said body, thermoelectric elements in thermal engagement with said body, and heat-dissipating means in thermal engagement with said thermoelectric elements for directing heat externally of the housing. I

3. The liquid cooling apparatus of claim 2 with the addition of means for mixing the cooled liquids from said tubing and container together, and means for dispensing the cooled liquid mixture from the apparatus.

4. The liquid cooling apparatus of claim 2, with the addition of means for urging said body, thermoelectric elements and heat-dissipating means together.

5. A liquid cooling apparatus including a housing, a casting of high specific heat characteristics positioned in said housing, said casting having a central cavity therein, tubing having heat-conducting properties spirally wound through said casting adjacent the central cavity, said tubing being adapted to receive and circulate a liquid to be cooled, a heat-conducting container positioned in the central cavity and in contiguous thermal engagement with the casting, said container being adapted for the reception of a second liquid to be cooled, thermoelectric modules engaged with said casting for removing heat therefrom, and a heat-dissipating assembly mounted in said housing in thermal engagement with said thermoelectric modules, said dissipating assembly including a heat-conducting fin member comprising a base, one face of which is in thermal engagement with said thermoelectric modules, fins extending outwardly from the opposite face of said base, and a fan mounted in said housing adjacent said fins for directing air past the fins and base to remove the heat therefrom.

6. The liquid cooling apparatus of claim 5 with the ad-' dition of valve means for intermixing the two cooled liquids, and a valve for dispensing the cooled mixture.

7. The liquid cooling apparatus of claim 5, With the addition of pull bars secured to said fin member base and spring-tensioned flexible straps around said casting, the terminals of each strap being connected to a pull bar, for urging said casting, thermoelectric modules and fin member together.

3. The liquid cooling apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fin member comprises fin units placed side by side to permit the latter to more freely adjust to the position of said casting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Parks 62-390 Boling 62-399 Sheckler 62-3 Alex 62-3 Blumentritt 62-3 Kistler 62-3 Crawford 62-3 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING, A HEAT-CONDUCTING BODY WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A LIQUID PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID HEAT-CONDUCTING BODY, A LIQUID HEATCONDUCTING CONTAINER POSITIONED IN THERMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HEAT-CONDUCTING BODY, THERMOELECTRIC MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID HEAT-CONDUCTING BODY FOR REMOVING HEAT 